Better Hearing At Any Age

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Do you know that 30% of people who are 65 or older suffer have some kind of hearing problem? Hearing loss isn't just a nusiance - it can cause misunderstandings and social isolation, which can severely impact a person's quality of life.

Suzanne and her guest, Dr. David Kennedy, from the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, discuss ways to test hearing and deal with any problems that may arise as we age.

Hearing loss can be the result of many problems, so it's very important to visit a doctor who can determine the cause. Causes include obstructions or fluid in the ear, nerve problems, childhood ear infections, and in rare cases, a tumor. Hearing loss due to the aging process is called presbecusis.

One of the first signs of presbecusis is when a person can't hear the higher frequency sounds, or the "S" and "T" sounds. If you are missing words from sentences, or have trouble understanding people or the radio or television, you might want to consider a hearing test.

To get a hearing test, make an appointment with an ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat doctor, also called an Otolaryngologist), or a certified audiologist. He or she will examine you and determine if a hearing aid will help your condition. If a hearing aid is warranted, the specialist will make a mold of your ear canal in order to determine the shape of the hearing aid, and will have it made over the next several weeks.

Once you have your hearing aid, it may take up to a month to become accustomed to it. Make sure you have a proper fitting and instruction on how to use it. Reputable hearing aid dispensers will let you have a trial period to make sure the devise works for you.

We hope this show gives you useful information to use regarding one of your most important assets: your hearing.